HONG KONG – The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government has raised the outbound travel alert for Lebanon to black, amid the worsening security situation in the Middle Eastern country as Israel continued attacks in its campaign against Hezbollah.

The highest in the city’s three-tier Outbound Travel Alert system, the black travel alert signifies "severe threat".

Citing the "highly unpredictable security situation" in Lebanon, a government spokesman advised Hong Kong residents on Monday night to avoid all travel to the country.

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“Those already there should attend to personal safety and leave or relocate to relatively safe regions immediately,” the spokesman said in a statement.

The city's Security Bureau said it will continue to closely monitor the situation in Lebanon and issue updates through the media, the bureau's mobile app, and its outbound travel alert webpage.

In addition to attending to personal safety, the bureau advised Hong Kong residents in Lebanon to pay attention to announcements made by local authorities and the Chinese Embassy there.

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They may call the 24-hour hotline of the Immigration Department’s Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit at (852) 1868, or use the 1868 Chatbot via the Immigration Department Mobile Application, send a message to the 1868 WhatsApp assistance hotline, send a message to the 1868 WeChat assistance hotline or submit the Online Assistance Request Form, or contact the Chinese Embassy in Lebanon at its consular protection hotline (961) 3866468 for assistance.